Examining the legal structure of the mental health system, this book explains the legal principles. It places them in the context of their practical application, the realities of patient life, and the complexities of organising care. This edition gives an analysis of the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 and the Draft Mental Health Bill.

Mental illness and intellectual disability (formerly called mental retardation) impact 20% of Americans, and have enormous personal, legal, and policy implications for patients, families, and society. This Nutshell introduces you to the broad range of criminal and civil issues in mental health law, including diagnosis of mental illness; expert testimony on mental health issues; civil commitment; competence to stand trial; the insanity defense; various competencies; ethical/legal issues facing mental health professionals, including informed consent, confidentiality, privilege, and malpractice; discrimination against persons with mental illness; financial and medical benefits for disabled persons.

"Favored by instructors and students for its real-world focus and engaging style, this authoritative text on the interface of psychology and law has now been revised and expanded. Each chapter provides an overview of case law on an important topic and explores selected cases in depth. Coverage includes psychological and mental health issues in criminal and civil proceedings; the role of practitioners as expert witnesses and forensic consultants; and legal concerns in general clinical practice. Salient legal processes and decisions are summarized and implications for today's clinical and forensic practitioners highlighted. Instructors who request a desk copy receive a supplemental Test Bank with questions keyed to each chapter. Students can access a downloadable Study Guide. New to This Edition *Updated throughout with current research and substantive changes in mental health law. *Chapter on competency in juvenile justice. *Citations of 115 new legal cases. *Conclusion identifying urgent social challenges facing the field. Subject areas/key words: forensic psychology, mental health law, psychology and law, law and behavioral science, legal cases, expert testimony, expert witnesses, case law, legal precedents, forensic mental health, forensic psychological assessments, forensic assessments, forensic psychological evaluations, psychiatric examination, juvenile justice, psychopathy, liability, malpractice, textbooks, casebooks, texts Audience: Students and practitioners in clinical and forensic psychology, psychiatry, and social work; also of interest in criminal justice and criminology"--

This book has been replaced by Law and Mental Health, Second Edition, ISBN 978-1-4625-4047-1.

The recognition of positive rights and the growing impact of human rights principles has recently orchestrated a number of reforms in mental health law, bringing increasing entitlement to an array of health services. In this book, Penelope Weller considers the relationship between human rights and mental health law, and the changing attitudes which have led to the recognition of a right to demand treatment internationally. Weller discusses the ability of those with mental health problems to use advance directives to make a choice about what treatment they receive in the future, should they still be unable to decide for themselves. Focusing on new perspectives offered by the Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Weller explores mental health law from a variety of international perspectives including: Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, where policies differ depending on whether you are in England and Wales, or Scotland. These case studies indicate how human rights perspectives are shifting mental health law from a constricted focus upon treatment refusal, towards a recognition of positive rights. The book covers topics including: refusing treatment new approaches in human rights international perspectives in mental health law the right to demand treatment. The text will appeal to legal and mental health professionals as well as academics studying mental health law, and policy makers.

Provides practical solutions for ending coercion in mental health care and realizing the universal right to legal capacity.

Psychiatrists, Approved Social Workers and Mental Health Nurses require a clear understanding of mental health legislation and case law in addition to clinical knowledge for their practice. All this information, and more, is provided in Mental Health Law: a practical guide. Multi-disciplinary in approach, this book provides all you need to kno